1. Conventions of crime
films

2. Our film has the genre of a crime-thriller, thrillers have exciting and tense plot
lines that often revolve around crime or espionage. Crime movies usually
stem around the ideology of what is morally right, justice and freedom.
Typical crime conventions are:
• Alcohol and illegal substances,
• Weaponry,
• A failed attempt from the police force,
• Robbery,
• Relates to a hard upbringing from the protagonist.

3. Films that use these conventions are:
• The untouchables (1987) – After Al Capone builds an empire with bootleg
alcohol, Prohibition agent Eliot Ness attempts to take
Capone down, despite all his efforts, it doesn’t work as there
is corruption in the police force.
•
• Now you see me (2013) – A team of illusionists reward their audiences with
money after pulling off bank heists during their
performances whilst an FBI agent and an Interpol detective
try to track them down.
•
•
• Ocean’s eleven (2001) – Three Las Vegas casinos are being simultaneously
robbed in a plan created by Danny Ocean and his
eleven accomplices.

4. Typical settings and location conventions used are:
• Banks
• Shops
• Jewellers
• The ‘gangs’ hiding spot/where they meet to discuss the heist
• Police stations
• Museums
• Bookies
• Homes

5. Typical editing and sound conventions used:
• Low key and shadows – Adds mystery by not showing the characters full
face, also leaving some parts of their body in shadows to show that the
character is hiding something.
• Angle changes – High angles make the character look weak, intimidated
and vulnerable.
• Different types of shots used – Reverse shots could be used to portray a
flashback, consequences of actions or what the character would have
done if they hadn’t done said motions.
• Music and sounds – Background sounds and/or music will most likely be
playing throughout the entire movie, whether the sounds be diegetic or
non-diegetic sounds.

6. Typical editing and sound conventions used:
• Low key and shadows – Adds mystery by not showing the characters full
face, also leaving some parts of their body in shadows to show that the
character is hiding something.
• Angle changes – High angles make the character look weak, intimidated
and vulnerable.
• Different types of shots used – Reverse shots could be used to portray a
flashback, consequences of actions or what the character would have
done if they hadn’t done said motions.
• Music and sounds – Background sounds and/or music will most likely be
playing throughout the entire movie, whether the sounds be diegetic or
non-diegetic sounds.